Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) takes a "whole team" approach to treating serious mental illness. It allows people to receive services in their community (rather than a more restrictive hospital setting). ACT aims to reduce the reliance on hospitals by providing round-the-clock services to the people who need it most. ACT uses a person-centered, recovery-based approach to care.

ACT services include:

• mental health treatment
• integrated dual disorder treatment
• family education
• community integration
• peer support
• vocational support

The goal of ACT is to help people become independent and integrate into the community as they experience recovery.

ACT GUIDANCE

• ACT Program Guidelines (updated 2024)
• Flexible ACT Program Guidelines Addendum
• Forensic ACT Program Guidelines Addendum
• Inpatient Setting Continuity of Care Expectations for ACT Individuals
• ACT Utilization Management Guidance (updated 3/2023)
• Service Dollar Guidance
• ACT Standards of Care (reissued 2023)
• ACT Billing Memo 8/29/19
• ACT Collateral Update Memo 9/1/19
• Training Memo (updated 4/2023)
• IPS Initiative Guidance for ACT and CORE PSR
• ACT Individualized Placement and Support FAQ

HOW TO ACCESS ACT SERVICES

Individual referrals for ACT services may be made by anyone with the information to complete the ACT referral packet. This can include:

• the individual, on his or her own behalf
• family member
• mental health agency, hospital, or service provider
• police
• court system

The process for ACT referrals varies by county. ACT services are accessed through the Single Point of Access (SPOA) program, which can also vary by county.

For People Who Live in the Five Boroughs of New York City:

There is one Single Point of Access that serves the five boroughs. To obtain the referral form, visit the Single Point of Access (SPOA) Care Coordination webpage. OR you can call or email to the following contact: spoa@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-7258.

RELATED RESOURCES

Find an ACT team in your community.

ACT Tableau Data Visualizations Presents information about individuals served by the New York State ACT program. Comparisons shown between ACT teams, OMH regions and New York State.

ACT Institute for Recovery-Based Practice Provides training, support, and consultation to ACT providers across New York State. The training curriculum is based on national evidence-based practice consortium standards and modifications to these standards as developed by OMH.

ACT Core Curriculum All ACT teams are required to complete trainings in the ACT Curriculum.

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Reporting on New York’s court-ordered Assisted Outpatient Treatment program. This portal provides guidance, forms, and statistical data on AOT program operations.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization.It is dedicated to improving the lives of people living with serious mental illness and their families.

New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) NYAPRS is a statewide coalition of people who use and/or provide recovery-oriented community-based services.